Page 145 of The BoneKeeper's Daughter

“Like a hierarchy, Keeper,” he offers slowly. “Do the People of the Bone not have the same?”

“Oh! Of course. In a way. The Council sits above all but the Father, of course. And then there are three Rings of the city–” I stop abruptly at their twin expressions of disappointment.

“So it would be the mirror here. Just called class instead. We have five classes, not three. Ellie is the Fifth Tier, so of course doesn’t have the same view of certain things. If you accept her as your servant, you can expect loyalty from her. Anything less would be unthinkable. Even while working for the scariest of SoulBinders.” This last is said with a teasing smile. “But volunteering for the position…well…” His voice grows tight, even though he tries to keep it casual and friendly. “It is up to you, of course, Wren, but it would be kind of you to treat her well. Even as a Fifth she is a good person to have in your corner.”

Ellie shoots him a quick glance, lips pressed together in a caution.

“Though whatever you’re comfortable with, BoneKeeper. The Rider isn’t suggesting…” Her voice trails off, and she looks to him for guidance again.

“No! I didn’t mean—” Stumbling over his words, he glances around him warily, then turns to my horse, rechecking its sides, more to have something to do with his hands than anything else. “I’m sorry if I gave any offense. Ididwarn you that I’m an odd weapon.” He forces a self-deprecating laugh. “You haven’t been with us long enough to know…it’s just…occasionally things that are permitted while outside the city — a certain level of camaraderie or leniency — that wouldn’t be advisable within the walls.” This last is clearly a direct message to the girl beside me, who wilts slightly at the words, which in turn causes Teo’s face to tighten in silent apology. “Ellie and I were raised close to each other — her parents worked on our lands — and our parents were often absent, so we have a history of incautious friendship which…has been…difficult…to outgrow. But please be assured we know our ranking.”

“I don’t understand…” I respond slowly, feeling stupid. He stands, stretching, avoiding my eyes. The subject is uncomfortable for him.

“I’m sorry, Keeper…I…You said it was the same for the Bone people.”

“We have three Rings, Rider. But the way you are saying things — why would I not be friends with someone from the Third Ring?”

“Are you not divided in things like schooling, or work, or–” His voice stutters to a stop, and he swallows hard to continue, forcing his words to be deceptively calm, only casually curious. “Or marriage?

I laugh, a short, surprised sound. I can’t help it, and offer an immediate apology. “I’m so sorry. No, of course not! I can’t even imagine. We have a Third, and Second, and First Ring school, but for practical purposes. If you are smart, you can move through the Rings; there is nothing to prevent you. It is more for, oh, I don’t know — distance from the outer Ring to the central school, harvest times…things like that. Any job is available to any person, though it’s admittedly hard to get the more desirable ones. If your father was a baker, and you were raised as a baker, the skillset you have would be difficult for an outsider to learn, so it’s not an easy task to take over from one raised in the bakery. But if you are a talented baker, you bake, First or Third Ring makes no matter.”

“And your Council?” Ellie sounds astounded. “Surely they are only…First Ring men?” The terms are odd in her accent, and I shake my head slowly.

“No. Any man can be called to Council. Rannoch isn’t even full blooded of the Bone, and he is the youngest Councilman we have. The Village Father is not from the First Ring, and the Bones called for him well before his 21st name day.”

“I’m sorry, Keeper, but…are you telling me that–” Teo’s words are choked. “For example–” Ellie’s eyes widen in sudden concern, but he pushes forward. “Let’s say Ellie wanted to marry a Rider. If she and a Rider were in love. They could just apply to be married, and it would be approved? It would not be a death sentence?”

“Death sentence? Approved?” All their words are so strange. “I don’t…they would just…they’d just marry. What approval?”

The looks on their faces are incredulous. “You don’t apply to the Council for permission to marry? You would not be sentenced to death for stepping outside your tier?”

“No! That’s…that’s…” Staring down at my bracelets, I try to give them a moment. They are uncautious around me, perhaps because I am foreign, because I am universally hated, because they think me blind. “I could never support such a society, Rider. Love is a blessing. Were two people ever to find themselves in such an unfortunate circumstance, then my home would be a haven for them, my lips shuttered windows, my hearth a place for shared meals. There is such little peace in life; I would consider it an honor to help anyone find moments of happiness in this desperate world.”

The silence is filled with staccato breathing. Hope after a lifetime of hopelessness is paralyzing. I know. It seizes your throat, stops your heart.

Possibility is painful.

“And Ellie, I cannot accept you as a servant, but would gladly take your advice and guidance in navigating a new culture. If we need to keep things a certain way for appearances, I understand. But within my tent, perhaps we can…follow the social customs of my people? In all aspects?”

She is trembling, and presses her face against my horse's neck. Teo’s hand glances down her arm, and she turns to him, just slightly, enough to exchange heavy looks. It is clearly a stolen moment, and I quickly adjust my bones, so when he looks at me, it seems I am simply distracted and did not witness anything.

“Well. What an interesting sort of place you must be from, Keeper,” he finally says, voice falsely light. “It sounds very intriguing.”

I shrug in response. What is golden in one light is brass in another, and there aren’t words enough or time to describe the differences.

A horn blares in the distance, and Ellie turns back to me, face pale, but composed. “That’s the count, Keeper. I’ll go start to sort your things for the night. I’ll get the tent started, and your sleeping roll set up.”

“Where do you sleep, then, Ellie?” I ask curiously. She shifts awkwardly at the question.

“Most of the Fifth will find a nice patch of moss, don’t you worry. Cold nights and fresh air are good for the soul.”

Pulling Lorcan around to the front of my neck, I grip my necklace for comfort.

Protector?I ask, unsure of what I’m saying, and wait for his advice.

I think…in this situation, perhaps it would actually be wise, Little Keeper. Yes.

Nodding, I address Ellie, who looks confused and slightly discomforted.

---